Balanced K9 Companion

12/11/2024

Looking for the perfect gift or stocking stuffer?

We have gift certificates available, PM if you are interested! 🎁

12/08/2024

We are getting ready for our next round of puppy classes! Send us a PM if you would like more info.

This is a trainer 2 for 1! Both of our Balanced K9 trainers will be teaching this class ensuring everyone gets the 1-on-1 guidance they need throughout the class!

As a client you will be given full access membership to our private page where Jessica Darula and I post video tutorials on each command practiced in class so you dont have to try and remember what we did, as well as different content from other classes and sessions.

Limited spots, get booked in before we fill up!

11/20/2024

We said goodbye to miss Clover last week, the walk definitely felt different without her there today. Clover started with us in our private puppy program in 2021 and continued with pack walks throughout the years. We become just as attached as they do to us! Over the years Clover was the best playmate to our young playful dogs and became a great role model for any new dogs coming in. Her sweet and gentle personality was such an easy addition and a joy to have. She will be greatly missed!

We wish Clover and her mama all the best in this new chapter of their lives and look forward to visits!

11/16/2024

Jess and I always have a blast running puppy classes together! Thank you to all our clients for coming out and participating, another big thank you to Steeples Vet Clinic for allowing us to use their clinic to teach our clients how to make the vet a positive experience for their puppies and to our camera man for capturing some great moments throughout the class!

Stay tuned for more upcoming classes that will be posted on our fb page!

11/08/2024

Welcome to Board & Train Spike! Spike is a beautiful Dutch Shepherd that is nervous with new people and suspicious of strangers. Like many dogs, he has learned that biting makes people back off. Our first 24hrs with Spike was a bit of a rollercoaster to care for and work him safely, but he quickly turned into a goofy sweet man once we bonded and established some ground rules. I love seeing those moments when dogs like Spike begin trusting people and challenging their old behaviors.

09/21/2024

Every trainer has an evolution of their understanding and practical applications of the inevitable knowledge that comes from experience. Sometimes what it takes is for that one dog to come along. For me it was Josie. Josie challenged me to grow or give up, she helped open my eyes to a reality I had been ignoring in order to give credence to the bold statements and shiney golden banner that was and still is being guilt tripped and pushed on people. Josie was incredibly reactive, her prey drive was unmatched and the predatory behavior she engaged in with small children, small dogs, wildlife prey animals had gotten to a point where she was an absolute liability. I had done FF/+R only with her for months and although we made some progress in some areas, her genetics and predatory behavior was more rewarding for her than anything I could offer her instead. Through e-collar training we were able to turn her into a whole different dog who now gets the freedom to live her best life, she cuddles my cats, is gentle and kind with kids of all ages, interacts daily with dogs of all shapes and sizes and is one of my most reliable and well balanced training dogs. The journey was not an easy one for either of us, but the gratitude that I owe her was worth it all. Today I am a proud balanced trainer and I have Josie to thank for that. I celebrate Zak's growth and development and know the heat he is about to take will be difficult to navigate as it is for all of us who are criticized and judged for the knowledge we have gained through shared experience.

09/16/2024

There are still some available opportunities to show your support!

Words cannot express our extreme gratitude and thanks to KVG Working Line, Geared2Go GSD, Coal Creek Dutch Shepherds, Balanced K9 Training, Inferno Canine, Not A Dog Club, and Leia & Henry Fitzpatrick so far for sponsoring some of our '25 GSSCC Western Region Sieger Show trophies! Claim yours before they are all gone! Do you want to see our sport grow? This is one way to help!

09/15/2024

You get what you pay for! In the dog world, this is so very true for many facets of our industry!

09/10/2024

Welcome to Board & Train little man!

09/05/2024

So many people are anxious to take their pups on all the adventures they envisioned going on when they started looking for a pup, but many forget or simply dont know the risks of strenuous activity for young puppies. There are a ton of fun activities that you can do with your puppy to safely engage with them. Save their joints and take it easy until those growth plates close ❤️

08/25/2024

Now accepting applications for the end of September - start of October Board & Train Program!

Your dog will stay in our head trainer's home for the length of the board & train program, they will be the sole focus of our program and get the entire space to themselves. This allows us to replicate the environment they will be going home to. We focus on quality, not quantity!

The program includes:
- the initial consult
- the full length of program (2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 week programs available)
- pack walks
- 2 go-home sessions
- field trips into town for training sessions

This program is a custom design, meaning you can choose what you want worked on primarily and anything else you would like to see from your dog.

Whether you have a serious behavioral case or would like some nice obedience foundation put on, we are happy to customize your training program!

Give us a call or send a PM or email to discuss your case!

250-919-2169
[email protected]

08/25/2024

Nobody tells you that the hardest part about Board & Trains is their send home day 🥹

The blood, sweat, and tears that we put in, the daily grind, the seemingly insurmountable, overcome.. the hard days, the good days, the hurdles, the successes, those moments where breakthroughs happen, all the late nights and early mornings, to deliver someone a well-trained dog takes everything you can muster but gives you even more.

Saying our goodbyes to miss Annie yesterday was bittersweet, but seeing the happiness on her humans faces was worth it all ❤️

08/24/2024

Okay guys, so im over here with my little chef hat on getting creative with some recipes for my next round of pupsicles. Im now selling my home made pupsicles, so for anyone who is interested i have a couple recipe options so far

Recipe 1: strawberries, bananas, plain organic greek yogurt, natural peanut butter, bone broth, venison

Recipe 2: peaches, mango, pineapple, strawberries, plain organic yogurt, bone broth, venison

3 for $5 or 10 for $10

Let me know if you want some too!

Pictures of my quality control assistant for tax 😁

08/15/2024

Join us for our upcoming puppy class starting every Monday from Sept 16 - Oct 21 at 630-730pm!

💥 A comprehensive coverage of everything you need to know about raising a well trained, happy, balanced dog.

💥 You will be provided with written homework assignments at the end of each class to review and continue working on until our next class.

💥 Membership to our Balanced K9 Alumni page to review videos and stay current with new content and first dibs at discounts & sales

💥 All basic obedience commands: sit, down, stand, come, leave it, drop it, leash manners, and the foundation to recall, thresholds and building impulse control

💥 Concepts covered will include proper socialization, how to troubleshoot issues like jumping up, potty training, crate training: how & why, etc

This class is a trainer 2 for 1! Both our Balanced K9 trainers will be in attendance to ensure everyone gets the 1-on-1 attention and support they need.

If you're interested to know more, send us a PM, call/text or email!

250-919-2169
[email protected]
Balanced K9 Companion
K9companion.ca

08/10/2024

Adopt or shop RESPONSIBLY!!

Unpopular opinion: i have nothing against breeders who health test their breeding dogs, ensure their puppies are sent home with the initial veterinarian care, have return policies on their puppies, have written contract agreements with their clients, have registration papers for their dogs & puppies, breed to preserve a breed and breed to their breed's standard, who title their dogs in either work, show or both, and plan litters carefully, the ones who are selective about who gets one of their puppies and chooses which pup is the right fit for that family.

Back yard breeding unhealthy, most times, mixed breed dogs just because you want your dog to 'experience the gift of motherhood' or just have 1 litter, or or or, is not okay. Those puppies are the ones who fill shelters and contribute to the constant hemorrhaging of unwanted dogs. While sometimes a buyer can get lucky, more often times than not they end up with medical disasters, behavioral problem dogs and mixed breeds with unpredictable temperaments making it difficult to decide whether that breed is the right fit for their lifestyle. Before you purchase a dog, make sure you are not supporting this unethical breeding practice.

Get your dogs spayed or neutered OR be responsible for ensuring they are not exposed to any intact males during heat or for male dogs, females in heat. If you have an intact dog, its important to be responsible on both sides to ensure no unwanted pregnancies occur.

08/10/2024

Louder for the ones in the back 👏

These days everyone has an opinion about everything in dog training and its the ones who know the least who are the loudest voices. This has drawn lines in the sand, created camps, created a massive division within the industry, made space for hate and at the end of the day it is the dogs we all love so dearly that are paying the price. It is disheartening to see and owners/handlers are constantly being torn in different directions. Shaming people and trainers that do things differently or make choices for themselves that don't align with your opinion has become the norm and instead of coming together and reaching out when one thing doesnt work, dogs are being sacrificed for egos.

08/09/2024

Many people fall into the trap of believing that shy, fearful, and/or reactive dogs "just need training." I can promise you that no amount of "obedience" training is going to change the way your dog feels about what he's fearful of. If I taught you how to fluently speak a foreign language, would it make your fear of spiders go away? That's about how relevant obedience training is to working with a fearful dog. Obedience training is absolutely important to teach your dog for so many reasons and will help in behavioral training, but cannot be the primary focus of a successful behavior modification training program. Behavior modification training addresses not only the root cause of the issues, but also serves to change the subsequent symptomatic behaviors (lunging, barking, etc) surrounding the problem behavior. Every dog is different and learning how to work with your dog is sometimes tricky to figure out which puzzle pieces need to be put together for your goals to be possible, find someone who will take the time to help you understand your dog. Be realistic in your goals. Know that some dogs will never become that social butterfly that loves everything and everyone, and that is okay!! I dont need my dog to want to be loved on, but he does need to be neutral above all else. This is why we focus on building neutral dogs rather than forcing interaction.